Not sure if this is the biggest sword ever made, or if it was used (doubt it)....but still cool. I assume this is purely ceremonial in nature....probably assuming the bigger the sword, the greater the respects afforded to whatever deities are represented in the shrine/temple. (Take note I'm not to familiar with Japanese Swords and Shinto)

In a battle scene in one of Kurosawa's movies (sorry, I forget which one), a blade such as that was being wielded by three men at once. They were mowing them down horizontally, then lifting the blade over their heads, and mowing the other way. Kurosawa wasn't known to "invent" or take too many liberties with historical military technology (situations, yes), so perhaps it's not impossible. I took a screen grab at one point, so I'll post that if I get a chance this evening. I doubt they actually found much practical use, but perhaps in a time of war, anything weaponish may find blood.

Swords of that size were produced as offerings to temples and exhibited the maker's abilities. It is truly difficult, bordering on the impossible, to forge a sword of that length in a traditional manner. Long swords were used in the past, but none of that length. As far as I know, the only remaining school for great swords is the Kage ryu, and it is almost extinct ... http://www.hyoho.com/Nkage1.html

Quote:The sword used by Chao Phraya Phichai was made from high-quality stell known as "Lek Namphi". There are two pounds where the so-called Lek Namphi steel was made. One in Bo Phra Saeng and the other is Bo Phra Khan. Uttaradit Province has built the World's largest Namphi sword. It is 9.24 meters long and weights 450 kilograms of Namphi steel.